Grief
— Thanking God for 40 years of marriage
— Centering in surrounding, supporting family who join me in my sorrow
— Filling up with littlebears’ giggles and wiggles that lighten my heart
— Taking in the Word of God and scriptures that understand me
— Realizing and re-realizing that I am never alone
— Knowing my God and giving Him every ounce of my trust
— Believing in God’s best for my life, for good from this journey
— Looking forward to hanging with my Bill again, laughing with him, doing life forever with him — together with my whole family!
— Worshiping through pain
VS.
Self Pity
— Fostering discontent
— Nurturing an attitude that others should sympathize
— Excluding others
— Isolating myself
— Excusing and avoiding doing what’s right
— Filling a void that is meant to be filled by God
— Taking control
— Thinking this whole thing is God’s fault
— Asking why why why
— Refusing to engage in worship
Jesus, I confess I have to fight against self-pity. But you own my heart. Remind me that you are my hope, that you have more for me, that you are my identity. Show me how to grieve so that you are lifted up. Let there be no versus for this gal. I choose you all the way down the road. You are the best company.
2 responses to “Versus”
Surrounded by a family I love, a family who loves me, a dear husband of 32 years, I admit I am not acquainted with the depth and pain of your grief. However, one does not have to be in the same station in life as another to still struggle with the “versus”. Meaningful connection to the Heavenly Father is my best medicine and the only way to ward off my temptations to isolate, be frustrated, feed on blame, need words of affirmation to justify myself, feel entitled, or be impatient and want to take control. Thank you for the gentle yet poignant reminder that no matter where one is in life, struggles are real. Only daily commitment to Jesus rescues us from our fallen humanity.
Chy Chy… we still have each other. Through it all. Struggles are real. Jesus rescues. How I love you!